After the hack, Snapchat announced: "We will be releasing an updated version of the Snapchat application that will allow Snapchatters to opt out of appearing in Find Friends after they have verified their phone number.

“We’re also improving rate limiting (which would reduce the speed at which anyone can access phone numbers from Snapchat’s databases) and other restrictions to address future attempts to abuse our service.

"The Snapchat community is a place where friends feel comfortable expressing themselves," the company said, "and we're dedicated to preventing abuse."

Nico Sell, co-founder of Wickr and a competitor to Snapchat. “We are happy to see 50 percent more growth this year since the hack."

A recent study found that 86% of people online have attempted to rub out some of their digital footprints by clearing caches or encrypting emails, while 55% have taken steps to avoid observation by specific organisations or people.